Total Complaints
11 filings
MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE · model year
11 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2012MITSUBISHIECLIPSE carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and Not Rated/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 ECLIPSE is air bags with 4 filings, followed by service brakes (2) and electrical system (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2012 ECLIPSE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
11 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
After a recent oil change, they informed me that the cross bar was very rusted and looks very unsafe. Upon further research I was informed there was a recall for this problem. I am the only owner and at this time all maintenance is up to date. Because the car has low mileage, I want to keep the car so during my research I was informed the part is unavailable. Not sure what to do at this point looking for any suggestions.
After a recent oil change, they informed me that the cross bar was very rusted and looks very unsafe. Upon further research I was informed there was a recall for this problem. I am the only owner and at this time all maintenance is up to date. Because the car has low mileage, I want to keep the car so during my research I was informed the part is unavailable. Not sure what to do at this point looking for any suggestions.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS WERE VISIBLY EXPOSED FROM THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
Mileage: 109,000
9/16/15 TOOK VEHICLE TO RIVERSIDE MITSUBISHI DUE TO THE AIRBAG POPPING OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. AIRBAG WAS REPLACED AND ISSUED RESOLVED. ON 1/25/16 HAD TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO RIVERSIDE MITSUBISHI DUE TO A BAD RATTLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH AREA, THE AIRBAG WAS REMOVED AND THE SCREWS AND BOLTS WERE RE-TORQUED AND REINSTALLED THE AIRBAG. ON 4/22/19 TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTO GALLERY MITSUBISHI -MURRIETA DUE TO THE AIRBAG AND AIRBAG HATCH HAD AGAIN POPPED OUT AGAIN. THE TECHNICIAN AT MITSUBISHI-MURRIETA SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE A TECHNICIAN THAT CAN ADEQUATELY DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE AIRBAG MANUFACTURER WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. WE ALSO CONTACT MITSUBISHI CORPORATE OFFICE AND WAS TOLD THE MITSUBISHI DOES NOT MANUFACTURE THE HATCH OR DASH PARTS ANY LONGER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE MITSUBISHI -MURRIETA FOR 48 HR AND REQUESTED US TO PICK UP WITH NOTHING RESOLVED AND NO REPAIRS MADE, ALONG WITH NO PAPERWORK GIVEN TO US.
Mileage: 53,806
DASHBOARD SEPARATION EXPOSING PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG
Mileage: 86,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V337000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
Mileage: 27,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V337000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
Mileage: 27,000
EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS RELATED TO HEADLIGHT OUTAGE, CAUSING FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND HI-BEAM LIGHTS. BEGAN WITH SPONTANEOUS YET INFREQUENT HESISTATION-BLINKING ON/OFF OF DRIVER-SIDE HEADLAMP WHEN NIGHTTIME LIGHTS FIRST USED IN THE EVENING, ESPECIALLY WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THIS EVENTUALLY LEAD INCREASED TO TOTAL OUTAGE OF FRONT HEADLIGHTS, RUNNING LIGHTS AND HI-BEAMS WHICH LED TO UNSAFE NIGHTTIME DRIVING. CAR WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, WHERE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THIS SAME ISSUE IS A KNOWN RECALL ON OTHER MITSUBISHI MODELS, BUT NOT ON THE ECLIPSE. THAT SAID, MY 2012 MODEL IS THE FINAL MODEL YEAR FOR THIS VEHICLE TO BE OFFERED FROM MITSUBISHI. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 90K MILES, AND YET THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE ISSUE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR 100K WARRANTY. --- I NOW HAVE TO PAY NEARLY $1300 TO REPLACE BOTH MAIN HEADLIGHT LAMPS AND BOTH ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNITS, ALONG WITH WI
Mileage: 89,000
EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS RELATED TO HEADLIGHT OUTAGE, CAUSING FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND HI-BEAM LIGHTS. BEGAN WITH SPONTANEOUS YET INFREQUENT HESISTATION-BLINKING ON/OFF OF DRIVER-SIDE HEADLAMP WHEN NIGHTTIME LIGHTS FIRST USED IN THE EVENING, ESPECIALLY WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THIS EVENTUALLY LEAD INCREASED TO TOTAL OUTAGE OF FRONT HEADLIGHTS, RUNNING LIGHTS AND HI-BEAMS WHICH LED TO UNSAFE NIGHTTIME DRIVING. CAR WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, WHERE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THIS SAME ISSUE IS A KNOWN RECALL ON OTHER MITSUBISHI MODELS, BUT NOT ON THE ECLIPSE. THAT SAID, MY 2012 MODEL IS THE FINAL MODEL YEAR FOR THIS VEHICLE TO BE OFFERED FROM MITSUBISHI. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 90K MILES, AND YET THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE ISSUE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR 100K WARRANTY. --- I NOW HAVE TO PAY NEARLY $1300 TO REPLACE BOTH MAIN HEADLIGHT LAMPS AND BOTH ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNITS, ALONG WITH WI
Mileage: 89,000
BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ON. AFTER DIAGNOSIS AT A REPAIR SHOP WITH TESTING SYSTEM THE FAULT READS ABS HYDRAULIC ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE. THE SHOP STATED THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS A 2012 I SHOULD CONTACT THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE A RECALL FOR THE ABS UNIT. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT RECALLS FOR THE ABS UNIT INVOLVED 2006-2009. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE I FEEL A COMPLAINT IS REQUIRED.
Mileage: 100,174
I WAS HEADING HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT ON MY CAR. MY CAR HAD FRONTAL IMPACT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IF I WAS GOING THE ACTUAL SPEED LIMIT WHICH IS 55 MPH, THE DEER COULD HAVE WENT THROUGH MY WINDSHIELD AND WHERE THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF MY HUSBAND AND I COULD BE DEAD. *JS
Mileage: 51,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.